Container for spark plugs



Feb. 11, 1947. L. F. HAHN 2,415,589

CONTAINER FOR SPARK PLUGS Filed Aug. 30, 1943 INVENTOR ATTORNEY srATEs 2,415,589 CONTAINER FOR SPARK PLUGS i The invention relates in general to a combined shipping and storing container secured to any contained article constructed to cooperate therewith and specifically relates to a packaged container designed to house and protect spark plugs of the type which has opposite ends threaded. The container herein disclosed is particularly designed to house spark plugs, particularly of the shielded type as now manufactured, which have at the shell end a threaded portion of relatively large diameter and at its opposite shielded barrel end a threaded portion of relatively small diameter. According to present practices in storing such spark plugs in a stock room or on a sales counter, they are simply contained in a pasteboard box. In this practice, no effort is made to keep the plugs clean or to avoid tarnishing and other deleterious effects caused by the environmental atmosphere and the lettering on the carton, often in small and indistinct characters, must beread in order to determine the siz and type of the contained spark plug.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple form of packaged spark plug which will be compact, which can be packed with other similar packages with a minimum loss of space, which will protect the housed spark plugs from external atmospheric conditions; which being.

transparent at least in part, will permit an inspection of its contents without necessity of open-' ing the package; in which the contained spark plug is secured to its container in such way as to be free of rattle: which can be stocked in upright position or laid flat on its side without rolling and which can be readily opened for withdrawal of the housed spark plug with the assurance that the spark plug will be clean.

' Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawing and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of container embodying the invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth-and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view in side elevation of a container'constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial cross sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 1 with the closures in position and showing in dotted outline a housed spark plug;

Lewis F. Hahn, Hatboro, Pa. Application August 30, 1943, Serial N0. 500,539 10 Claims. (0]. 206-46) 2 Fig. 3 is an end view of the inside face of either one of the closures;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the outerfiat side of either closure; and

Fig. 5 is a view of a modified-form of closure,

it being understood that a duplicate of the same or one of the closures of the preceding figures is at the opposite end of the completed device.

Referring to the showing in Fig. 1, there is disclosed the component parts of a container it formed solely of three elements, a shell H and a pair of closures l2'and :3. These parts are dimensioned to fit a spark plug it of the shielded type provided at one end with a threaded shell i5 and at the other end with a shielding barrel It also threaded. As illustrated the threaded end of the shell is of greater diameter than the threaded end of the barrel. It is a feature of this disclosure that the shell be formed of transparent material but which cannot be made of glass which could not stand the rough usage to which packages of this character are subjected in transit. The shell illustrated is made as a tube of thermoplastic material with a slight degree of permissible distortion particularly at its opposite ends and yet sufilciently rigid to maintain its form while in use. The shell can be cut ofi from long tubular stock now in the market, the length being," of course, governed by the particular length of the spark plug or other equivalent article which is to be housed therein. As it is the intent or this disclosure to economize in manufacturing costs, it is noted that the shell is formed simply of tubular material and is free of any threads or other fastening means, and is free of any pro- Jection or anything else that would increase its bulk of material. The closures l2and l3 are or identical construction and size except for the necessary difierence in the diameter of the internal threaded recess, so that the detailed description of either one will be sumcient for the other. The closures illustrated are formed of thermoplastic material and are accurately molded to shape. The closures are of-one piece and include primarily an outstanding hexagonal flange l1 projecting inwardly from which is a barrel Ill. The outer face of the flange it is flat so that the package may be stocked or contained in a drawer or display cabinet in upright position as suggested in Fig. 1. The fact that the flange is of hexagonal form permits the packaging of a number of thecontainers in a box with a flange of one contacting with a flange of another, and a third and fourth hexagonal fitted in the opposing angles formed by the said two aeiassa package.

The barrel I8 of each closure or cap is of frusto-conical form on its outer side with its smaller end facing inwardly. The barrel is so dimensioned that its smaller end can be readily intruded into either end of the shell H with an initially loose flt, and then, as the closure is screwed into position, the conical wedging surface l9 thereof first engages and then bears against the side of the end of the shell in which it is intruded forcing the shelloutwardly to a slight extent as indicated by the frustoconical distortion 20. The resulting tendency of the distortion to close on the barrel has the effect of hermetically sealing the connection between the closure and the shell. The tightening of the threaded connection acts to effect an hermetic seal at the. line of joint between the extreme edge ofthe shell and the flange forming shoulder on the closure. However, as a further precaution to effect a tight seal, it is suggested that the flange ll be provided on its inner side with an annular groove 2| which outlines the base of the barrel l8 and forms in effect a continuation of the wedging surface l9 intruding into the flange.

It will be appreciated that by this construction there is provided an extensive area of contact between the barrel l8 and the inner side of the shell at the end thereof engaged by the closure.

The greater the area of contact the less possibility there is of leakage into the container: The shoulder 22 which forms that part of the flange I! which projects beyond the barrel as shown in Fig. 3 is made not only sufliciently extensive to accommodate the groove H but to provide a ring 23 of material sufliciently rugged so that it will not chip off in use. Each barrel is of tubular form and is provided with a bore 24 threaded as shown at 25. The threaded bore of the closure cap I2 is dimensioned to fit the threaded end l5 of the spark plug having the larger diameter and the closure 131s similarly bored and threaded to receive the end I6 of the spark plug having the lesser threaded end.

In operation, the spark plug 14 is inserted in the shell H, the fit of the shell therein being sufliciently close to maintain the spark plug in substantially coaxial position with the shell. From stock, the operator picks a. larger bored closure 12 for the left hand end and a smaller threaded closure l3 for the opposite end inserting the closures into their respective ends until contact is made with the adjacent ends respectively of the contained spark plug. The threads of the spark plug are so arranged relative to each other that the packer simply rotates the closures in relatively opposite direction and the closures are advanced towards each other as they ride inwardly on the threaded ends until stopped by the interposed shell ll. During the last turn or so the barrels [8 act as conical wedges to distend opposite ends of the shell ll outwardly and thus effect a long annular sealing engage. ment between the shell and its closures.

Referring to the modified form in Fig. 5, it is understood that for either or both of the closures l2 and I3, the two-parts-form of closure illustrated in Fig. 5 may be utilized. This comprises an annular bushing 26 which corresponds to the outer peripheral portions of the closures except that it is provided with a bore 21 extending therethrough and of suflioient diameter to clear the threads 28 of the housed spark plug H. The threaded end is engaged by an internally threaded cap 29 of cylindrical form which bears on the outer face of the bushing to force the same inwardly into engagement with the shell I I as previously described for the-preferred form. With this Fig. 5 form of closure, it is possible to use the same size bushing at opposite ends with, of course, caps having the necessary difference in threaded bore to engage the diiierent size diameters of threaded ends of the housed article.

I claim:

1. A container for a shielded spark plug of the character which has opposite ends threaded and of different diameters. comprising a cylindrical shell open at opposite ends, free of connecting elements and having capacity to expand radially at opposite ends at least slightly, closure caps for opposite ends of the shell, each cap provided with a tubular barrel dimensioned for intrusion selectively into either end of the shell and having its outer face slightly beveled to provide a snug wedging lit with the slightly expandible end of the shell in which it is contained, each of said caps including a flange integral with its associated barrel and coacting therewith to provide a shoulder for overlapping and bearing on the adjacent end of the shell, said shoulder provided at the base of the bevel face of the barrel with an annular groove in which the adjacent end of the shell is snugly received, and each barrel being internally threaded,- with the ends of one cap dimensioned to fit the threaded end of the spark plug having the larger diameter and the threads of the other cap dimensioned to fit the threaded end of the spark plug having the lesser diameter.

2. A container for sealing therein unitary articles having their opposite ends threaded and relatively flxed, comprising an open end cylindrical shell having resilient capacity at least in its end portions and adapted to be sprung at least slightly from its original cylindrical configuration, closures at opposite ends of the shell for closing the same-said closures including barrel-like elements of frusto-conical form for intrusion selectively into either end of the shell and acting on the end so intruded to distend the same slightly and thus provide a. hermetically tight fit between the closures and the resilient ends of the shell and each of said closures also provided with threaded means for engaging the adjacent thr aded end of the contained article and for advancing the closures towards each other as the closures are rotated in contradirection relative to each other and into bearing engagement with the shell.

3. A shipping and storing container for hermetically sealing therein articles having their opposite ends threaded, comprising a, cylindrical shell open at opposite ends, closures for said opposite ends, each of said closures including a barrel-like element for snugly fitting into its associated end of the shell, and with an outstanding flange lapping said adjacent and of the shell, said flange provided with an annular groove closeatlases 1y encircling associated barrel-like element and into which looves the edge of the'adjacent,

' end of the shell-isadapted'to be forced, and each element beingv internally threaded engaging the threads. "on the adiacentfendffor" the contained article and said closures coactingwhen turned on to the contained article toj'cause the grooved portion of the flange to bind nrmly'in an axial direction against the edge defining opposite ends of the shell.

4. A shipping and storing container dimensaid caps constituting closures for the open ends of the shell.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubular shell of'transparent material relatively thin in its cross-section of material,

I smooth on both its interior and exterior surfaces sioned when in operative position to contain therein and secure therein against rattle or loose lit a spark plug having its opposite ends threaded, comprising solely three elements, one of said elements comprising an open end cylindrical shell and the other two elements comprising a pair of thus free of any modification of its thin-shelled construction, from end to end, and closures for opposite'ends oi the shell, each closure provided with a plug-like barrel with its perimeter formed of a smooth surface for engaging its associated end of the shell and eachclosure also provided with an internally threaded recess, with the recesses adapted when intruded into the ends of the shell to be disposed in axial alignment, and providing elements of a tightening means adapted to coact with an article housed within the shell for closures for the open ends of the shell, each closure provided with threaded means for engaging the threads on the adjacent end of the spark plug when contained in the shell and each closure also provided with meansfor eilecting a hermetic seal between itself and the adjacent end of the shell when the closures are .turnedon the contained. spark plug to cause the closures to approach each other until stopped by their engagement with the shell.

5. A container for a shielded spark plug of the character which has opposite ends threaded and of different diameters, comprising a cylindrical shell of thermoplastic material open at opposite ends, free of connecting elements and having capacity to expand radially at opposite ends at least slightly, bushings at opposite ends of the shell, each provided with a bore fashioned to have the adjacent end of the spark plug extend causing the closures to approachleach other and in securing the closures in their operative positions also act to clamp the container therebetween. I Y

. 9. The combination of an article provided with 3 a threaded end and a container in telescopic relation therewith, a two-piece closure for the container, one part comprising an annular bushing provided with a bore extending therethrough for therethrough and project beyond, each'bushing provided with a sleeve for intrusion into the shell and provided at the outer end of the sleeve with an outstanding flange for hearing on the adjacent end or the shell, and a pair of capsone for each end oi the spark plug and in threaded engagement therewith and bearing on its asso elated bushing to force the same into engagement with the shell.

6. An article or manufacture comprising solely three parts adapted when assembled with a rigid unitary device housed thereby to form a shipping and storing container within which the device is snugly fitted against rattle, one of said parts comprising a one-piece shell being simply a tubular length of material free of any projections or any'other parts additional to the tube and having a length substantiallyequal to that of the contained article, and the other two parts constituting closures adapted to be inserted axially but not rotatively into the shell for sealing opposite ends of the shell, each of said closures provided with screw means for engaging opposite ends of the housed unitary device and adapted to react with the device and independently of the shell to secure the closures in their operative position and to anchor opposite ends of the device to the opposite ends of the shell.

7. A container for housing a spark plug having opposite ends threaded, a pair of caps internally threaded for engaging the threaded ends of the spark plug, and otherwise free of threads and each provided with an outstanding flange, and an open end shell fitted between said flanges when the caps are tight on the spark plug and said shell held squeezed between the caps and Name Date 1,713,129 Hope May 1%, 192d 1,049,903 Norton Jan. 7, i913 receiving the threaded end of the article and a' barrel projecting integrally from one side of the bushing to intrude into the container, the opposite' side of the bushing forming a fiat bearing surface, said barrel being of frusto-conical form with its larger end at the bushing, and the other partcomprising a cap provided on one side with a face adapted to engage said bearing surface and provided with(a threaded pocket adapted to face and form a continuation of said bore and in threaded engagement with the threaded end of the article.

10. A device of the class described including a single article having its opposite ends threaded with the threaded ends fixedly spaced apart, a tubular container in which said article is housed and having. alength substantially equal to that of the article, said container comprising an open end shell smooth on both its inner and outer surfaces and thus free of any closure fastening means, and a pair of closures for opposite ends of the shell, each closure including a barrel for engaging and for bearing on the inner face of the adjacent end of the shell to seal the same, and said closures each provided on its inner face with a threaded bore for receiving and engaging the adjacent threaded end of the contained article and said closures adapted as theyare rotated towards each other on to the article to draw the closures axially towards each other and into bearing engagement with opposite ends of the shell and each closure provided with an outstanding flange outlined by a plurality of flat surfaces and said flanges adaptedwhen fully advanced to abut the adjacent end of the container.

names j ihe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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